Identification assembly and method

ABSTRACT

A unitary identification assembly and method, the assembly comprising a band having a pocket at the exposed surface for receiving and storing an encoded identification plate and a lower pocket for receiving a visually readable identification card, the band being eccentrically connected at one end to a tether across a fold line. The tether is looped through a slot in the identification plate and a single male-female fastener mechanism unites the tether to itself and the identification band to itself in overlapping relation with the tether folded out of the eccentric position upon the identification band when in use.

United States Patent Bushnell et al.

[451 Apr. 18, 1972 4 [54] IDENTIFICATION ASSEMBLY AND METHOD [72]Inventors: Dwitht J. Bushnell, Murray; Billy M. Jensen, Sandy, both ofUtah [73] Assignee: Bio-Logics, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah [22] Filed:Mar. 5, 1970 [21] App]. No.: 16,886

[52] US. Cl. ..40/21 C [51] Int. Cl ..G09f 3/14 [58] Field of Search..40/21, 300, 303, 304, 216, 40/129 A, 21 C; 224/58, 5-24 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS539,367 4/1922 France ..40/129A 164,981 6/1921 GreatBritain ..224/58Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J.Contreras Attorney-Lynn G. Foster 57 ABSTRACT A unitary identificationassembly and method, the assembly comprising a band having a pocket atthe exposed surface for receiving and storing an encoded identificationplate and a lower pocket for receiving a visually readableidentification card, the band being eccentrically connected at one endto a tether across a fold line. The tether is looped through a slot inthe identification plate and a single male-female fastener mechanismunites the tether to itself and the identification band to itself inoverlapping relation with the tether folded out of the eccentricposition upon the identification band when in use.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 18 m2 INVENTORS. DWIGHT J.BUSHNELL BILLY M. JENSEN ATTORNEY IDENTIFICATION ASSEMBLY METHODBACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates generally toidentifying persons, such ashospital patients, and more particularly toa novel identification assembly and method, making identificationinfonnation conveniently available.

2. The Prior Art The use of wristbands for identifying persons, such ashospital patients, is well known in the art. Conventionally, a plasticband having a hollow interior is provided with a paper identificationinsert or card which is placed in the band prior tofastening the bandaround the wrist or other body member of the patient. An example of aconventional identification band is the one manufactured by TOMAC, modelnumber 10114401.

It has recently been proposed in patient identification to provide anidentification plate which accommodates mechanical or other transfer ofpatient information to another information-bearing media. Problems havebeen encountered in satisfactorily providing for permanent attachment ofthe identification plate to an identification band and for convenientand accessible storage of the identification plate at the band when theplate is not in use.

BRIEF, SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present inventionprovides a novel identification band assembly and related method foridentifying a person wherein an identification plate is permanentlyattached to a tether which is in turn unitary with a band of theassembly. Opposed male and female fasteners secure the tether, with theattached identification plate, to itself and the band to itself about alimb of the person to be identified. When not in use, the plate isstored in a pocket of the band.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide novelidentification band structure.

It is another significant object of the present invention to providenovel methods related to identification of persons.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of oneidentification bandtether according to this invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary sectional views respectively taken alongline 2-2 and line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the identification band-tether of FIG. 1with an identification plate attached to the tether;

FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective the identification assembly of FIG. 4disposed as it would be carried upon the wrist or other body member of aperson to be identified, the identification plate being attached to thetether and stored in a pocket of the band; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT The IdentificationAssembly .With reference particularly to FIGS. I-3, the identificationassembly, generally designated 14, is fundamentally fabricated fromupper and lower layers of stock plastic material. The flexible upperlayer 16 may comprise a transparent, mattefinish vinyl plastic materialand the flexible lower layer 18 comprise, for example white or otherwisepigmented textured vinyl plastic material. The layers 16 and 18, insuperposition, are die cut and heat sealed together around the cutperipheral edges, to provide the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1.Thus, a peripheral seam 20 and seams 28 at each aperture are created.Heat sealing and die cutting may be accomplished simultaneously and on amass production basis, if desired.

The identification assembly 14 comprises a band 15 and a tether 82, thetether 82 being unitary with the band at fold line 58. The band 15 hasan elongated connecting strap 22 having a contoured leading end 24 and aplurality of heat-sealed spaced apertures 26. The connecting strap 22merges with a laterally enlarged pocket portion 30.

The pocket portion 30 is divided into compartments or pockets 32 and 34(see FIG. 2) by a heat seam 36. An elongated opening 38 provides accessto the interior of the pocket 32, the opening 38 being defined byoverlapping ends 40 and 42. The opening 38 is exposed at the outsideperipheral surface of the band 14 when the band is looped into theasused" position of FIG. 5. Thus, the pocket 32 may receive theidentification plate 44, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Pocket 34 is similarly provided with an opening 46, which is defined byoverlapping ends 48 and 50. It should be observed that the opening 46 isat the underside of the band 15 next to the person receiving theidentification assembly when the band is positioned as shown in FIG. 5.The pocket 34 may recieve an identification card, such as isconventionally prepared by typing or otherwise inscribing patientidentification information on a paper strip. When the insert or card isplaced in the pocket 34, the identification inscription is orientedoutward as viewed in the figures so as to be readily observable throughthe transparent upper layer 16 without removal of the identificationassembly from the wrist.

A coupling tab 52 merges with the band 15 and is separated from thepocket 34 by a heat seam 54 (FIG. 2). The coupling tab 52 also mergeswith the offset distal end 56 of the tether 82 at fold line 58, whichfold line may be created by heat sealing techniques which are wellknown. I

The appendage 52 is provided with a female coupling 62 which ispermanently mounted within an aperture 64 of the band. See FIG. 2. Thefemale coupling is held by engagement of flanges 65 and 69 thereof withthe layers 16 and 18 adjacent the aperture 64. The flange 65 may beformed in place by conventional heat-softening techniques. The femalecoupling member 62 has a flared bore 66 which is stepped at 68 to forman annular shoulder 70 as best shown in FIG. 2.

The offset distal end 56 carries a male coupling 72, shown projectingupwardly in FIG. 1 and having a disc-shaped base 74, best shown in FIGS.5 and 6. With reference to FIG. 6, the tether 82 is secured to the malecoupling 72 at aperture 73 between the face 75 of the base 74 and theshoulder 77 created by the reduced portion 79 of the shank. The malecoupling 72 is formed of resilient material with memory and has aforwardly tapered bifurcated shank 76 which terminates in an enlargedtip 78. The tip 78 is sized to radially deflect and pass snugly throughthe opening 66.of the female coupling 62. The axial slot 80 to the shankaccommodates the mentioned radial deflection of the tip 78 as the headis forced through the female coupling 62. When the head reaches thestepped portion 68 of the bore 66, the memory of the shank causes thebifurcation of the shank to return to the at rest condition therebybringing the shoulder 81 of the tip into abutting relation with theannular shoulder 70 of the female coupling member 62, as illustrated inFIG. 6.

The elongated tether 82 is a continuation of the offset portion 56 andextends parallel to the band 15. As shown in FIG. 3, for purposes ofmass production, the superimposed layers 16 and 18 of the tether 82 areheat melted together at 84 and an overlapping seam 86exists adjacent thepocket portion 30. The tether 82 terminates in an enlarged end 88 havingan aperture 90 with a heat-sealed edge.

The tether 82 is severed from the adjacent band 15 along the entireco-extensive lengths thereof, except for the attachment between the band15 and the tether 82 at the fold line 58. The purpose of the tether willbe hereinafter more fully described.

Operation Reference is now made to FIGS. 4-6 which illustrate the use ofthe abovedescribed identification assembly.

In FIG. 4, an identification plate 44 of any suitable design andpreferably containing coded information about the person to beidentified, is illustrated as having a transverse slot 94 near one endthereof. The tether 82 is displaced through the slot 94, the enlargedend 82 being turned upon itself longitudinally to accommodate insertionthrough the slot. When the tether 82 has been so positioned through theslot, it is looped upon itself so that the enlarged portion 88 issuperimposed over the end 56 and the aperture 90 is situated over themale coupling 72 in loose-fitting relation.

If desired, an information card (not shown) may be prepared by typing orotherwise inscribing indicia thereon. The card may be threaded throughthe opening 46 into the pocket 34 so that the indicia can be observedthrough the transparent layer 16. The seam 36 which divides the pockets32 and 34 will prevent the card from moving into the other pocket 32.Thereafter, the connecting strap 22 is looped around the wrist or otherbody member (not shown) of the person to be identified until one of theapertures 26 is aligned with the bore 66 in the female coupling 62. Theparticular one of the apertures 26 selected should be the aperture whichallows the band to encircle the wrist to prevent removal from the wristbut not so tightly as to make the band uncomfortable.

When the proper aperture 26 has been aligned with the bore 66 in thefemale couplings 62, the tether 82 is folded at the fold line 58 intosuperposition with the band 15. Thereafter, the male coupling 72 isforced through the selected aperture 26 and the bore 66 of the femalecoupling. The head 78 will be constricted by the tapered bore 66 untilthe head emerges at the stepped enlargement 68 whereupon the head 78will expand to lock the male and female couplings together by engagementbetween the shoulders 70 and 81. The identification band 14 is then inthe general configuration illustrated in FIG. with the fastenercomprising the male and female couplings 62 and 72 with the associatedaperture in the tether and band being disposed as illustrated in FIG. 6.It is presently preferred that the identification plate 44 be insertedthrough the opening 38 into the pocket 32, as shown in FIG. 5. Theopening 38 accommodates ease of insertion of the plate into the pocketfor storage purposes and ease of removal of the plate from the pocket 32for use concerning identification of the person to whom theidentification assembly is attached.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description,and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalencyof the claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

l. Identification structure comprising:

a flexibleflat band of synthetic resinous material, said band havingspaced lateral side edges;

first fastener means carried by the band for aiding in fastening theband to itself in a looped condition in any one of several possiblepositions;

a tether of synthetic resinous material initially disposed in sideedge-to-side edge relation with the band such that the length of thetether lies generally parallel but laterally offset to the length of theband, the tether being permanently joined to the band at a fold line ofcomparatively short length, the fold line being interposed between alateral side edge of the tether and one side edge of the band, thetether being otherwise separate from the band initially;

a flat identification device having an aperture through which the tetheris looped;

second fastener means carried by the tether and adapted to interlockwith the first fastener means when the tether is folded upon andsupenmposed across the band ad acent the fold line to thereby secureboth the tether and the band in their respective looped condition.

2. Identification structure as defined in claim 1 further comprisingmeans defining at least one pocket in the band, the pocket having anexposed access opening when the band is in the mentioned loopedcondition and wherein the flat identification device may be insertedinto the pocket for storage.

3. Identification structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the pocketcomprises at least one upper and at least one lower layer of flexiblematerial one superimposed upon the other, the layers being adheredtogether along less than all of the peripheral edges so that an accessway exists between the layers into the pocket.

4. Identification structure as defined in claim 2 wherein saidpocket-defining means comprises at least one upper and at least onelower layer of flexible material the layers being superimposed one overthe other and being divided into juxtaposed compartments by a seambetween the layers, one compartment having an access opening through theupper layer and the other compartment having an access opening throughthe lower level.

5. The structure of claim 4 further comprising:

second identification means disposed in one of said compartments.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein:

said second identification means is disposed in said compartment havingan access opening through the lower level; and a said firstidentification means is removably receivable within said compartmenthaving an access opening through the upper level.

7. Identification structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the bandcomprises superimposed layers of flexible plastic material heat sealedat peripheral edges to make a unitary strip.

8. Identification structure comprising:

an elongated strip of flexible material;

a pocket having an access opening formed in the strip;

a tether laterally offset from but joined with the strip along one sideedge near one end of the tether;

a male fastener and a mating female fastener, one fastener being carriednear an end of the tether adjacent the juncture between the tether andthe strip with at least one aperture at the other end of the tether, andthe other fastener being carried near the end of the strip adjacent thejuncture with at least one aperture disposed toward the other end of thestrip, whereby the tether end strip may be (a) looped upon themselves,(b) folded upon each other and (c) fastened in the looped and foldedconfiguration by closing the male and female fasteners through theapertures; and

an identification device secured by said tether.

1. Identification structure comprising: a flexible flat band ofsynthetic resinous material, said band having spaced lateral side edges;first fastener means carried by the band for aiding in fastening theband to itself in a looped condition in any one of several possiblepositions; a tether of synthetic resinous material initially disposed inside edge-to-side edge relation with the band such that the length ofthe tether lies generally parallel but laterally offset to the length ofthe band, the tether being permanently joined to the band at a fold lineof comparatively short length, the fold line being interposed between alateral side edge of the tether and one side edge of the band, thetether being otherwise separate from the band initially; a flatidentification device having an aperture through which the tether islooped; second fastener means carried by the tether and adapted tointerlock with the first fastener means when the tether is folded uponand superimposed across the band adjacent the fold line to therebysecure both the tether and the band in their respective loopedcondition.
 2. Identification structure as defined in claim 1 furthercomprising means defining at least one pocket in the band, the pockethaving an exposed access opening when the band is in the mentionedlooped condition and wherein the flat identification device may beinserted into the pocket for storage.
 3. Identification structure asdefined in claim 2 wherein the pocket comprises at least one upper andat least one lower layer of flexible material one superimposed upon theother, the layers being adhered together along less than all of theperipheral edges so that an access way exists between the layers intothe pocket.
 4. Identification structure as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid pocket-defining means comprises at least one upper and at least onelower layer of flexible material the layers being superimposed one overthe other and being divided into juxtaposed compartments by a seambetween the layers, one compartment having an access opening through theupper layer and the other compartment having an access opening throughthe lower level.
 5. The structure of claim 4 further comprising: secondidentification means disposed in one of said compartments.
 6. Thestructure of claim 5 wherein: said second identification means isdisposed in said compartment having an access opening through the lowerlevel; and said first identification means is removably receivablewithin said compartment having an access opening through the upperlevel.
 7. Identification structure as defined in claim 1 wherein theband comprises superimposed layers of flexible plastic material heatsealed at peripheral edges to make a unitary strip.
 8. Identificationstructure comprising: an elongated strip of flexible material; a pockethaving an access opening formed in the strip; a tether laterally offsetfrom but joined with the strip along one side edge near one end of thetether; a male fastener and a mating female fastener, one fastener beingcarried near an end of the tether adjacent the juncture between thetether and the strip with at least one aperture at the other end of thetether, and the other fastener being carried near the end of the stripadjacent the juncture with at least one aperture disposed toward theother end of the strip, whereby the tether end strip may be (a) loopedupon themselves, (b) folded upon each other and (c) fastened in thelooped and folded configuration by closing the male and female fastenersthrough the apertures; and an identification device secured by saidtether.